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Sixers star Joel Embiid ranked No. 17 center in history of the NBA

Sixers star Joel Embiid ranked No. 17 center in history of the NBA

USA Today4 days ago
Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid has gone through a lot in his NBA career. The 2023 MVP winner has just been unable to avoid the injury bug as he continues to fight to be in the best shape possible every year to lead the Sixers on a deep run like they expect every year.
The 2024-25 season was a challenging one for everybody, but none more so than Embiid. The big fella was hampered by a bothersome left knee injury and he was limited to only 19 games. He underwent surgery in April--the second one he's had in a span of 14 months--and he is looking to get back for the 2025-26 season.
With that being said, when he's right, he's easily one of the top 3 players in the game. HoopsHype put together a list of the top 20 centers in the history of the NBA and ranked Embiid at No. 17:
When ready to go, he's one of the most unstoppable big men ever, thanks to his massive frame, mobilit,y and deep bag.
The problem with him is that he doesn't play that many minutes, considering he misses a lot of time due to health reasons regularly. Plus, his track record in the playoffs is spotty as well. If he manages to stay in shape and healthy and gets the Sixers to make deep runs in the postseason, he could move up in this ranking.
Embiid is one healthy playoff run away from moving into the pantheon of greatness. The big fella can do so many different things on the offensive end as he is a legitimate 3-level scorer and is evolving as a playmaker. He is one of the best players this league has ever seen regardless of position. He has just had an unfortunate history of injuries.
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